Of course the wife is proud of her fruit plate! This wonderful retro cookbook hits all the foodie choices from the 1960s: Something with jello, another tasty sandwich loaf masquerading as a cake, and of course some food with eyes. The surprising new recipe that I haven’t seen before is the Cottage Cheese Croquettes. All you foodies will want to get on that right away. Your family will love it!

What on earth is Proteena, why is it sold in a can, and why would I slice it, cover it with dressing, and eat it? A Google search brings up a brand of sheep feed, which I’m hoping isn’t the same thing.

And I never want to see the phrase “piquant balls” in a recipe again.

Also, I can’t tell if the man on the cover is clapping, or trying to conjure a mystical fireball from the depths of hell to hurl at that fruit plate.

It doesn’t look any better or worse than other cookbooks of the era, but (being from the Seventh-day Adventists) you are not likely to see any meat used as ingredients. (Note the references to “Worthington White Chik” and “Battle Creek Vegetable Steaks”.)

Actually, I had an uncle who would specifically go to the hospital cafeteria to eat. He was reasonably wealthy, but if he invited you to lunch, you knew you were either going to the hospital cafeteria or this rundown pancake place where he would always order, of all things, a chicken stir fry.

In hindsight, I think perhaps there was something not quite right about him.

Google is your friend. I Googled Savorex, it’s apparently some kind of seasoning or condiment made with brewer’s yeast, related to Marmite or Vegemite (British and Australian products, respectively). People who are more avid vegetarians than I am, let me know if I’m right or wrong